** Here ya have it folks! I got my feel good happy reviews that I love and you get a new chapter :) Enjoy! ** ~Ocean
Chapter 11: Defiance
Ezra tossed and turned in his new bed. The youth couldn't help but compare it to his previous sleeping arrangement. It was much roomier than the one he had been sleeping with on the ship, there was no smelly Lesat. Anyone else in the planet would probably love it. Ezra didn't like it though. He felt comfortable with just one opening to his sleeping area, walls enclosing him like a shell.
Zeb's smell no longer bothered him, and it let him know he wasn't alone hearing the older male's snores. Last of all, he liked knowing that Kanan was close by.
Kanan kept him safe in more ways than just blaster shots and inquisitors. His master helped keep the nightmares away and gave him great comfort when he needed it.
Ezra had tried to tell his parents, during their argument, that the reason he was shot was because he was protecting his master. That it was a mutual bond between the two. They wouldn't hear of it and told him not to speak of going on missions or Jedi again. The teenager had stormed to his room after that leaving his parents alone.
"How can I not go? They need me…" Ezra stayed up for a long time pondering what he should do. He decided to follow his master's teaching, listen to the force and his feelings, and go with the crew on their mission. It defied his parent's direct orders, so what? Ezra Bridger was not one to obey authority, right?
Ezra was practically an adult anyway; he was forced to grow up early and so he felt he had the right to make his own decisions. He didn't just want to be with the crew; he needed to be with crew. They were his family too, why couldn't his real parents understand.
Mira and Ephraim had never acted this way towards anyone who was against the Empire. It didn't make sense that they would just now start. Had they been scared so bad they had a change of heart? Perhaps the Empire struck a deal with them for their silence.
"No, the Empire doesn't make deals." The boy thought to himself staring at the ceiling. That would be another topic to discuss at the later date. The youth rolled over and tried to force himself to go to sleep, finally managing to fall into a restless slumber.
At sunrise, Ezra left a note saying that he went out to explore the city and that he'd be back later. He clipped on his light saber and headed for the ship that had been his home for almost a year. The ramp was closed and locked; that meant that everyone supposed to be on the ship was on the ship.
For a brief moment, the youth felt almost betrayed but he let go of it quickly. Ezra had to pick the lock before he had access, heading up and into the commons where the crew was debriefing. He watched them all for a moment staying silent.
Hera knew he was there, she knew her ship and the noises it made when the ramp was being opened. She was confused as to why the younger Jedi was there but didn't draw any attention to him yet. Kanan had finally gotten focused after several cups of caf and was talking.
Ezra's eyes fell on Kanan who looked sickly. His mentor had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he was trying to hide how miserable he was as he spoke. The Jedi explained what they were going to be doing when Ezra finally announced his presence.
"Don't forget about me. Am I that easily replaced?" The youth said, smiling. Everyone looked up surprised. Even Kanan. The older man cocked his eye brow in suspicion as to why Ezra was there when they had been told no more missions, his student saw the relief though.
"What about your parents? Ezra, they made it quite clear that you weren't allowed to go on missions anymore." Hera said in her motherly tone.
"So? I talked to them. I'm here aren't I? Couldn't let everyone have all the fun. Besides, I'm not going to let Kanan just easily get out of training me; I don't feel like turning to the dark side when I'm older because I was unable to control my powers." Hera smiled before she switched plans back to the original one and Kanan continued to debrief.
She knew the kid was trying to sweet talk them. He was lying.
The Jedi didn't look at his student once or singly address him. Ezra silently questioned this, normally he was getting an earful about focusing and discipline right before a mission like this. His student had pointed something out that concerned Kanan about his parent's decision.
With Ezra's powers growing as fast as they were, he had to be trained properly. If Ezra wasn't allowed to train, he would eventually go dark. The thought sickened the green eyed human.
Hera noticed the lack of lecturing as well and brought Kanan a refill on his caf. When they were alone she would question him about his leg.
With things explained, the crew headed off to their destination. With them leaving early and carrying out the mission as such, Ezra would be back by nightfall, on Alderaan and his parents would never know. It wasn't uncommon when he was a kid to go running off all day and Ezra assumed they would remember that.
Ezra helped Chopper and Zeb run final diagnostics to make sure everything was in working order. The Lesat didn't make any mention of the previous night's venture involving Kanan.
"You know the kid did this without his parents' knowledge right Hera?" Kanan said tiredly in his co-pilot's chair. Despite being so drunk a normal person would probably have some liver damage, Kanan didn't even have a hangover. Instead, all night he had been plagued with nightmares, something he was hoping would be numbed by the fermented drinks.
Hera nodded.
"I had a feeling as well, but it's the Kid's choice; I learned a while back that you can't tell him what to do and expected him to follow through if it's not what he wants. I can't stop him, and we need the help." The Twi-lek said.
Hera had never seen Kanan this out of character before. The normally stoic, stay calm in all situations human looked worn and broken. She was surprised at how much Ezra affected him. Kanan had never allowed anyone to get that close to him; she even doubted she was at the level Ezra was.
Kanan was actually mad at himself for his lack of control over his current emotions. Jedi weren't supposed to form long relationships. They weren't supposed to have connections or attachments in the ways he did. He broke so many cardinal rules of the order.
"The Order has fallen though. There are no more rules." Kanan mused to himself to try and help his guilt. It helped a little and the more he thought on it, the more he realized that without the crew and his "forbidden" relationships, he didn't function at his greatest potential. The crew had changed him for the better, all of them. Ezra just made him come back to life.
Without warning Hera reached over and felt Kanan's forehead. He backed his head away.
"What are you doing?" He asked defensively watching her with leery eyes; Kanan knew exactly what she was doing.
"Checking to see if you have a fever. I know you're injured Kanan. I want to know how injured." The Twi-lek crossed her arms as she leaned back. The Jedi didn't have a fever, which was good, but injuries on missions could mean trouble.
"It's just a bone bruise I got when a shot hit my guard. It's sore but that's all." Kanan retorted somewhat annoyed. He changed the subject back to the kid not wanting to discuss it further.
The older human didn't know why it was still sore, it should have healed by now. He shut his eyes again leaning back.
"As soon as we get back, the kid goes back home. I don't want his parents going on a crazy tirade because we kidnapped their child." The Jedi spoke softly keeping his eyes shut.
His own words stung him because he didn't want to return Ezra. He wanted to take his student and run across the galaxy where they would never find him. That wouldn't be right though.
"Agreed. Love, why don't you go spend some time with him? We have an hour before arrival and you've been craving his attention all week. Don't try and deny it either; I've been watching you closely." The pilot smirked slightly as she saw the older human tense up before relaxing. He nodded and got up leaving the cockpit. Hera looked after him sadly; Ezra's parents being alive was a curse and a blessing to all of them.
